punjab Police Registers 60,582 Firs, Arrests 79,784 Drug Smugglers Including 708 Big Fish Since Launch Of ‘yudh Nashian Virudh’: Dgp Gaurav Yadav

Sep14,2026 | Jagrati Lahar Bureau | Chandigarh

*Record 3,803 Kg Heroin, 976 Kg Opium And 46 Tonnes Poppy Husk Recovered Between March 2025 And September 2026: DGP Gaurav Yadav*

*Scientific Investigation Takes Punjab’s NDPS Conviction Rate To 89%; 11,981 Convictions Secured In 13,430 Cases: DGP Gaurav Yadav*

*₹366 Crore Properties Frozen In 914 Cases; 102 Hawala Operatives Arrested And ₹11 Crore Recovered: DGP Gaurav Yadav*

*Counter Intelligence Busts 92 Terror Modules, Arrests 686 Terrorists And Intercepts 952 Drones: DGP Gaurav Yadav*

Under the decisive leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police has registered 60,582 FIRs and arrested 79,784 drug smugglers, including 708 big fish involved in 354 commercial-scale cases, with each case involving recoveries of over 2 kg of heroin, since the launch of the flagship ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ anti-drugs campaign.

Addressing the media during a press conference alongside CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav outlined the landmark milestones achieved on the anti-narcotics front between March 1, 2025 and September 10, 2026, while also sharing comprehensive breakthroughs achieved by the Counter Intelligence wing.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said, “Overall drug recoveries during this period touched a record 3,803 kg of heroin, 976 kg of opium, 46 tonnes of poppy husk, 1,325 kg of ganja, and 78 lakh intoxicant capsules/tablets. Punjab accounts for approximately 60% of India’s total heroin recovery.”

Highlighting the impact of professional and scientific investigation, the DGP said, “Professional and scientific investigations spearheaded by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has elevated Punjab’s conviction rate to 89%—setting a benchmark across India. As many as 13,430 NDPS cases were decided since March 1, 2025, with convictions secured in 11,981 of them.”

The ANTF operational model has also drawn national praise, with ADGP ANTF Nilabh Kishore recently addressing Indian Police Service (IPS) officers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad, on combating drug trafficking and how professional investigation helped in increasing the conviction rate.

Choking the financial conduits of the illicit drug trade, DGP Gaurav Yadav said, “Properties worth ₹366 crore were frozen across 914 cases approved by the competent authority under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act.”

He added, “Concurrently, police nabbed 102 hawala operatives and recovered ₹11 crore in hawala funds.”

Highlighting the use of cutting-edge technology and community partnership, DGP Gaurav Yadav said, “Punjab was the first state to deploy the Artificial Intelligence-driven Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS), executing 4.60 crore searches leading to arrest of 4 lakh accused.”

He further said, “Under the Chief Minister’s reward policy, ₹3.33 crore has been disbursed to as many as 2,362 civilians and police personnel for actionable intelligence and drone intercept recoveries.”

Divulging details of action against terrorists from March 16, 2022 to September 11, 2026, he said, “The Counter Intelligence wing has busted 92 terror modules and apprehended 686 terrorists.”

He said the Counter Intelligence wing has recovered 54 rifles (AK/MP-9/MP-5/.315), 599 revolvers/pistols, 38 Tiffin IEDs/IEDs, 28.887 kg RDX and other explosives, 131 hand grenades, 6 RPGs (with launchers) alongside 3 sleeves, while 952 drones were intercepted out of 1,493 sightings.

The DGP pointed out, “A total of 43 terror attacks were reported since September 2024, and all the cases have been solved in record time, while nine claims of attacks proved hoax or entirely fabricated.”

Furthermore, DGP Gaurav Yadav said, “Counter Intelligence averted major terror attacks by preemptively neutralising as many as 53 terror modules.”

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